... And I Have A New Old Lexus
03-14-17, 09:39 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
... And I Have A New Old Lexus
I bought a 1992 Lexus LS 400 in June 2009 for $4.990.00, 95,000 miles, excellent condition.
Fun times with tappets, valve adjustments, and timing belt at 112,000 miles:
Rebuilt the steering pump, and enjoyed a lush hushed 42,000 miles over the past nine years.
Sold it to my brother a month ago, and realized that I was so not ready to let it go. I love these cars. Well, I had to buy another one. This one is a year older (1991) and doesn't have some of the bells and whistles (trac, memory and heated seats, Nakamichi CD).
But you know what it does have? A flawless 57,733 original miles, garage-kept the whole time.
Happily paid $6,800.00. Wood is absolutely perfect, driver's seat and all other leather absolutely perfect:
I hate the chrome wheels, will trade for a softer painted aluminum:
Glad to be back in the driver's seat after a whole three weeks of no Lexus.
Colin
Fun times with tappets, valve adjustments, and timing belt at 112,000 miles:
Rebuilt the steering pump, and enjoyed a lush hushed 42,000 miles over the past nine years.
Sold it to my brother a month ago, and realized that I was so not ready to let it go. I love these cars. Well, I had to buy another one. This one is a year older (1991) and doesn't have some of the bells and whistles (trac, memory and heated seats, Nakamichi CD).
But you know what it does have? A flawless 57,733 original miles, garage-kept the whole time.
Happily paid $6,800.00. Wood is absolutely perfect, driver's seat and all other leather absolutely perfect:
I hate the chrome wheels, will trade for a softer painted aluminum:
Glad to be back in the driver's seat after a whole three weeks of no Lexus.
Colin
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CELSI0R (03-14-17)
03-14-17, 09:49 PM
#2
Racer
Welcome back! Your new old one is a very nice example. Hopefully it'll provide many more years of happy motoring.
Even though it's nicer initially to have those accessories, I see it much more difficult to find replacements when they fail (nakamichi and Trac system) it's best to have a simple model in my eyes
Even though it's nicer initially to have those accessories, I see it much more difficult to find replacements when they fail (nakamichi and Trac system) it's best to have a simple model in my eyes
03-15-17, 08:54 AM
#6
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Heading across the country as I write. I flew from Pensacola FL to Salt Lake City UT to snag it.
How on Earth did I get 31.7 mpg at 70 mph yesterday. There was a mild tailwind, but still . . .
This car was so babied that the tachometer needle stuck at 2,600 rpm on my first passing maneuver. This being my first low low mileage Lexus, I am totally impressed with how quiet it is. Rough road surfaces make just a muted thumping sound and the rack and pinion is absolutely tight.
There will be some "projects" that I hope to execute in a quality, discrete manner. I would love to see if I can seamlessly incorporate a sixpack trunk CD changer into the sound system.
Eastbound on I-40
Colin
How on Earth did I get 31.7 mpg at 70 mph yesterday. There was a mild tailwind, but still . . .
This car was so babied that the tachometer needle stuck at 2,600 rpm on my first passing maneuver. This being my first low low mileage Lexus, I am totally impressed with how quiet it is. Rough road surfaces make just a muted thumping sound and the rack and pinion is absolutely tight.
There will be some "projects" that I hope to execute in a quality, discrete manner. I would love to see if I can seamlessly incorporate a sixpack trunk CD changer into the sound system.
Eastbound on I-40
Colin
Last edited by Amskeptic; 03-15-17 at 08:57 AM. Reason: capitalized the "L" on Salt Lake City
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CELSI0R (03-15-17)
03-15-17, 09:26 AM
#7
Intermediate
Congrats! 
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03-15-17, 09:53 PM
#10
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Today, tach needle froze at 2,600 rpm as engine probably hit 3,500 rpm. When the upshift occurred, the tach needle dove down and hovered at 1,000 rpm at 70 mph. When I shut the engine off at a Tucumcari NM gas stop, the tach needle parked at almost due south.
"What a trashy used car I have just been suckered into," I thought to myself.
Pulled behind the WalMart and stripped that damn combination meter out of the binnacle, pried the smoked plastic lens off, and carefully cranked the needle around the dial to about 6,500 rpm position. A mild click occurred, and I gently pushed the needle assembly down on the spindle. Upon release, needle parked at 0. Started the engine, and the tach behaved properly through a couple of engine revs. Reassembled and hit the road within the hour, no lint or smudges behind the glass even.
"What a fabulous car," I thought to myself.
Hammered Interstate 40 at a sustained 80-85 mph with air-conditioner on all day, gas mileage dropped to 25 mpg, such a pig. Such a lovely pig.
Colin
(p.s. I am familiar with these combination meters, I am the guy who painted the backside of my 1992's darkened speedometer needle with defogger repair conductive paint back on December 13, 2009, worked fine forever since)
"What a trashy used car I have just been suckered into," I thought to myself.
Pulled behind the WalMart and stripped that damn combination meter out of the binnacle, pried the smoked plastic lens off, and carefully cranked the needle around the dial to about 6,500 rpm position. A mild click occurred, and I gently pushed the needle assembly down on the spindle. Upon release, needle parked at 0. Started the engine, and the tach behaved properly through a couple of engine revs. Reassembled and hit the road within the hour, no lint or smudges behind the glass even.
"What a fabulous car," I thought to myself.
Hammered Interstate 40 at a sustained 80-85 mph with air-conditioner on all day, gas mileage dropped to 25 mpg, such a pig. Such a lovely pig.
Colin
(p.s. I am familiar with these combination meters, I am the guy who painted the backside of my 1992's darkened speedometer needle with defogger repair conductive paint back on December 13, 2009, worked fine forever since)
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CELSI0R (03-16-17)
03-17-17, 09:47 PM
#14
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I have full maintenance records here. Timing belt and idlers done at 52,000 miles per dealer suggestion strictly based on age, not mileage, and glory be, a preventative power steering pump re-seal to protect alternator.
Now at 59,786 miles, I have a driveline vibration around 50 mph then again at 83-90 mph. This vibration is definitely upstream of the ring and pinion/ rear half shafts/wheels rpm.
Colin
03-17-17, 09:49 PM
#15
So which car do you have? One has trac and the other (the engine photo) does not have it.
I would not be spending a bunch of time in the driver seat of that car. It would just be a shame to get it rear ended from a kid texting.
I would not be spending a bunch of time in the driver seat of that car. It would just be a shame to get it rear ended from a kid texting.
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armadill0 (03-18-17)